Paul Domowitch

STAFF WRITER

Paul Domowitch is a pro football writer for the Inquirer and Daily News, where he has worked since 1982. He has covered nearly 30 Super Bowls and has been a selector for the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the last 15 years.

On Sunday’s 13-13 tie with the Bengals: What Andy said: "I’ve said this before. There are good things that you can find in every game, and things that you need to work on in every game, and that’s how I feel about this one. I look forward to the game that we put the offense, defense and special teams together."What he meant: "To dream the impossible dream ... "

On adjustments to his team’s pregame preparation in the wake of Sunday’s loss: What Andy said: "We will continue to work on game plans and scripts and so on, and then, also put a little more concentration into practice, into meetings, film study and opportunities to study when they’re not in this building at home." What he meant: "Until further notice, bowling night has been cancelled. For the rest of the season, I’m also handing out daily homework assignments. Today’s: write a thousand times, `There is only one overtime period in the regular-season.’ "

On the problems with the passing game Sunday: What Andy said: ``We have to make sure that we pitch and we catch. The quarterback has to make sure he’s pitching accurately, and the receivers who are given the opportunity to catch the football, need to catch the football.’’ What he meant: ``I don’t really want to talk football. Let’s talk baseball. Just 3 more months until pitchers and catchers report to Clearwater.’’

On why his team ran the ball just 18 times and threw it 58 times against a Bengals defense that was ranked 25th against the run and 10th against the pass going into the game: What Andy said: "One of their weaknesses, we felt, was against the pass. To answer, that’s a twofold question there, so obviously the pass game had to be a factor here. We want it to be a factor. And then, I will say that we weren’t quite as successful in the first half running the football as we needed to be. Could we have dialed more (runs) up? Absolutely." What he meant: "Frickin’ Marty got the numbers mixed up. He thought they were 10th against the RUN and 25th against the PASS. That knucklehead."

On whether he was surprised that several of his players, including his quarterback, didn’t know the NFL rules about overtime: What Andy said: “I’ll tell you that I’m sure there are plenty of rules that guys don’t understand. But I don’t think that has any factor whatsoever to do with the outcome of this game and how they played in the overtime. I think that’s absurd.’’ What he meant: ``Well, on a positive note, I gave the guys a pop quiz this morning and you’ll be pleased to know that all but three of our players knew how many points you get for a touchdown. And no, Donovan wasn’t one of the three.’’

On whether it would have been worth the risk to go for it on fourth-and-1 from their own 22 with a minute-and-a-half left in overtime considering that a tie is almost as bad as a loss: What Andy said: “I don’t see it like that. I see there is a half a game right there. Plus that’s ridiculous. You’re giving them an opportunity at the minus-22 [yard line]. That doesn’t make sense. I don’t think that should make sense to anybody.” What he meant: ``I’ve always believed that half a slice of pie is better than no slice.’’

On why RB Correll Buckhalter has just 13 touches in the last 4 games: What Andy said: “You end up trying to get Brian (Westbrook) going is what you are trying to do. With running backs you try and get it right, and with that we left him in and tried to get it going.” What he meant: ``Do you see all those zeroes on Brian’s contract? Joe and Jeff want to make sure they get their money’s worth.’’

On who called those three third-and-one pass plays: What Andy said: “I can’t get into that. That’s here nor there. Those are the plays we called and that was it.” What he meant: ``We decided to give Butch Buchanico a crack at it. Next week, it’s Christina Lurie’s turn.’’